A dog walker found a snake inside a box at Withywood Park in south Bristol – a volunteer at the park said she reptile was ‘probably the strangest thing’ they had ever seen there
A dog walker found the snake while strolling through a park in south Bristol(Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
A dog walker found a boa constrictor lurking in a park near a primary school.
The reptile was discovered inside a lidded box by a person who was strolling through Withywood Park in south Bristol. Park volunteer Kristie said the snake was “probably the strangest thing we’ve ever seen in the park”.
Avon and Somerset Police rescued the animal and took it to a vet before it was transferred to a reptile charity. The force said the boa was “cold and lethargic” and could have died if it had been left there longer. Kirstie admitted she thought the snake was dead when she first saw it.
READ MORE: Massive snake spotted on popular UK walking route left dog walker ‘screaming’
Large boa constrictor females can reach up to 12ft in length (stock)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
However, after the boa lifted its head she realised it was actually alive, despite being “very weak”. Speaking to the BBC, the volunteer said she had previously rescued dogs but never snakes. “I wasn’t worried about it being dangerous, it didn’t have the energy to do any harm,” she said.
Kirstie believes the snake was abandoned. She said: “I understand people are struggling with cost of living but I just wish people who are struggling to look after pets, would reach out.”
Just weeks ago, parents on the school run in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, spotted a 5ft-long boa constrictor slithering across a residential street. Resident Laura Jolly Yan, 42, said she was alerted by a concerned neighbour who saw the snake in the road and came running over to knock on her door. The mum-of-two said the area is usually busy with parents doing the school run.
Laura said: “Our street is popular with the school run and there are a lot of kids, so it’s freaky to have a snake that big on a school run. Apparently, if they want to restrict you, they can and would, so it’s concerning if it got hold of a child.”
The snake was eventually reunited with its owner who said their pet had been missing since July. Laura, a trend agency consultant, added: “They said they thought it had been hiding under a shed for a bit because it likes to do that, but can they not just keep it in the tank?
“It’s been out and about for a long time. It’s very strange. When I feel something touch me, it instantly makes me jump because the snake is in my mind now.”
Boa constrictors eat fish, small birds, monkeys and other reptiles. They catch their food by wrapping their bodies around their prey and squeezing tight. As the snakes get larger, they can tackle bigger prey such as wild pigs.
Generally, these snakes don’t pose a threat to humans as they are non-venomous and not aggressive – but they can be dangerous, especially if they are large. Boa constrictors can grow to be between 5ft and 9ft on average, but large females can reach up to 12ft or more, and weigh over 60lbs.
A bite from a large boa can cause severe lacerations. Most bites are defensive and happen when the snake feels threatened or provoked. Serious injuries are uncommon.